Origin of the
Confederate
By:
*Taken from Southern Historical Society Papers Volume
[The facts concerning
the origin of the battle flag contained in this article are derived from a
speech by General Beauregard before a special meeting of Louisiana
Division, Army Northern Virginia, Association, December 6, 1878.- C. McC.]
This banner, the witness and inspiration of many victories, which was
proudly borne on every field from
But the men who followed it, and the world which watched its proud
advance or defiant people, whose deeds have outlived their country, and whose
final defeat but added luster to their grandest victories.
It was not the flag of the
Confederacy, but simply the banner - the battle flag - of the Confederate
soldier. As such it should not share in the condemnation which our cause
received, or suffer from its downfall. The whole world can unite in a chorus of
praise to the gallantry of the men who followed where this banner led.
It was at the battle of Manassas, about 4 o'clock of the afternoon of the
21st of July, 1861, when the fate of the Confederacy seemed trembling in the
balance, that General Beauregard, looking across the Warrenton turnpike, which
passed through the valley between the position of the Confederates and the
elevations beyond occupied by the Federal line, saw a body of troops moving
towards his left and the Federal right. He was greatly concerned to know, but
could not decide, what troops they were - whether Federal or Confederate. The
similarly of uniform and of the colors carried by the opposing armies, and the
clouds of dust, made it almost impossible to decide.
Shortly before this time General Beauregard had received from the signal
officer, Captain Alexander, a dispatch saying that from the signal station in
the rear he had sighted the colors of this column, drooping and covered with
the dust of journeying, but could not tell whether they were the stars and
stripes or the stars and bars. He thought, however, that they were probably
Patterson's troops arriving on the field and reinforcing the enemy.
General Beauregard was momentarily expecting help from the right, and the uncertainty and anxiety
of this hour amounted to
anguish. Still the column pressed on. Calling a staff officer, General
Beauregard instructed him to go at once to General Johnston, at the Lewis
House, and say that the enemy were receiving heavy reinforcements, that the
troops on the plateau were very much scattered, and that he would be compelled
to retire to the Lewis House and there reform - hoping that the troops ordered
up from the right would arrive in time to enable him to establish and hold the
new line.
Meanwhile, the unknown troops were pressing on. The day was sultry, and
only at long intervals was there the slightest breeze. The colors of the
mysterious column hung drooping on the staff. General Beauregard tried again
and again to decide what colors they carried. He used his glass repeatedly, and
handing it to others begged them to look, hoping that their eyes might be
keener than his.
General Beauregard was in a state of great anxiety, but finally determined to hold his ground, relying on the promised help from the right, knowing that if
it arrived in time victory might be secured, but feeling also that if the mysterious column should be Federal
troops the day was lost.
Suddenly a puff of wind spread the colors to the breeze. It was the Confederate flag - the stars and bars! It was Early with the
Twenty-fourth Virginia, the Seventh Louisiana, and the Thirteenth Mississippi.
The column had by this time reached the extreme right of the Federal lines. The
moment the flag was recognized Beauregard turned to his staff right and left,
saying, "See that the day is ours!" and ordered an immediate advance.
In the meantime Early's brigade deployed into line and charged the enemy's
right - Elsey, also, dashed upon the field - and in one hour not an enemy was
to be seen south of
While on this field and suffering this terrible anxiety, General
Beauregard determined that the Confederate soldier
must have a flag so distinct from that of the enemy that no doubt should ever again endanger his cause on the field of battle.
Soon after the battle he entered into correspondence with Colonel William Porcher Miles, who had served on his staff
during this day, with a view to securing his aid in the matter, and
proposing a blue field, red bars, crossed, and gold stars.
They discussed the matter at length. Colonel Miles thought it was
contrary to the law of heraldry that the ground should be blue, the bars
red, and the stars gold.
He proposed that the ground should be
red, the bars blue, and the stars white.
General Beauregard approved the change, and discussed the matter
freely with General Johnston. Meanwhile it became known that the design
for a flag was under discussion, and many designs were sent in. One came from
Mississippi; one from J. B. Walton and E. C. Hancock, which coincided with the
design of Colonel Miles. The matter was freely discussed at head-quarters,
till; finally, when he arrived at Fairfax Courthouse, General Beauregard caused
his draughtsman (a German) to make drawings of all the various designs which
had been submitted. with these designs before them the officers at
head-quarters agreed on the famous old banner - the red field, the blue cross,
and the white stars. The flag was then submitted to the War Department, and was
approved.
The first flags sent to the army were presented to the troops by General Beauregard in person, he then expressing the hope
and confidence that it would become the emblem of honor and of victory.
The first three flags received were made from
"ladies' dresses" by the Misses Carey, of
General Beauregard sent the flag he received at once to
This article is penned to
accomplish, if possible, two things: first, to preserve the little history
connected with the origin of the
flag: and, second, to place the battle flag in a place of security, as it were, separated from all the
political significance which attaches to the Confederate flag, and depending for its future place
solely upon the deeds of the armies
which bore it amid hardships
untold to many victories.